Ladder support



- a. D. WERNLI ET AL LADDER SUPPORT Filed Feb. 13, 192.4

1 i 54 4 3 I3 l /4 5 a ATTORNEY.

Patented D sc 16, 1924-.

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GEORGE D. WERNLI AND WILLARD IJI. WEBSTER, 03 LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA.

LADDER SUPPORT.

Application filed February To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, Gnonen D. VVnnmi and VVILLARD M. N EBSTER, citizensof the United States, both residing at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ladder Supports, of which the following is aspecification.

@ur invention relates particularly to improvements in m ans for securingsteps to side rails of ladders and the like, and the objects are firstto provide an interlocked. holding means between the steps and siderails; and second, to construct a. support for securing ladder stepsthat will resist the lines of forces therethrough, and stiffen the wholestructure.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingspecification in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary front elevational View of the ladderand supports.

Figure 2 represents a side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: represents asectional View on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts, the ladder sides 1 and the step 2 comprise aportion of a ladder, and the clips 3 are in turn secured around thejoining portions of the said ladder sides and step 2. The lower portionof the clip 3 comprises a support 13 to receive a step 2 thereon, theflange 6 projects downwardly at an angle to the said support 13, and theknee brace 5 is formed between the said support 13 and flange 6 withconveXo-concave surfaces, and the upper portion of the said clip 3comprises a flange 12 spaced a distance above the said support 13 to fitthe step 2 therebetween, the flange 9 is in turn formed in alinementwith the flange 6 to fit the ladder side 1, and projects up Wardly adistance in angular connection with the said flange 12. The lateralportions 14 are formed in the said clip 3 to fit the back and frontedges of the ladder side 1, and are in turn formed integrally 13, 192Serial No. 692.515.

with the said flanges 6 and 9, and the side flanges 8 are spaced on thetwo sides of the said step 2, between the said flange 12 and the support13, and are integral with the respective lateral portions 1 1, the twoarms 7 are integral with their respective lateral portions 14, and arespaced a distance from the said flanges 6 and 9 to secure a ladder sioe1 therebetween, and the end portions of the said arms 7 are secured together by the truss rod 4, the said truss rod 4 extends from the saidarms 7 through one of the ladder sides 1, over the support 13 andthrough a groove 15 within the lower surface of the step 2, and thenceextends over a companion support 13, through the companion ladder side 1and through the companion arms 7*, respectively, and the nuts 16 are inturn drawn together to provide a solid succession of joints between thesaid ladder sides 1 and 1, and the steps 2, and to hold the clips 3 withtheir respective members firmly around the said ladder joints. The lugs10, 17 and 11 are formed in the flanges 6 and 9 and the support 13,respectively, and project into the respective ladder sides 1 and step 2.

To use the clip 3 the flanges 6 and 9 are placed flush with the innerface of the ladder side 1, by driving the lugs 10 and 17 respectively,into the said ladder side 1, the step 2 is then forced between thesupport 13 and flange 12, and the two side flanges 8, and the lug 11 isthen driven into the step 2, the lateral portions 14 of the clip 3 arethen drawn tightly around the adjacent edges of the adder sides 1 as theconnecting arms 7 are pulled over one another to receive the truss rod4, and the companion clip 3 is assembled in a similar manner, and thetruss rod 4 may then be drawn through the ladder sides 1, 1 and step 2as hereinbefore de scribed.

It will also be evident that the step 2 is substantially supported uponthe support 13 and that the load thereon. is delivered to the ladderside 1 from the support 13, by passing through the concaVo-conveXstructure of the knee brace 5 and through the flange 6, respectively,and the lugs 1011 anchor the flange 6 and support 13 to the ladder side1 and to the step 2, respectively. The concavo-convex structure of theknee brace 5 is arranged to resist the variable lines of force passingtherethrough from any direction due sheet metal which is slit to i'ormthe flanges 8, flange 12 and and knee brace 5 support 13 which supportare drawn out by a draw 'ing process to provide an extended seat for thesteps, thus greatly adding to the rigidity and strength of the ladderHaving thus described our invention what we claim is:

1. A. device as described, for securing a step to the side rail of aladden comprising a clip formed with a lower flange and an upper flangefor engaging the inside of the side rail, a pair of; overlapping armsembracing said rail, a support upon which the step rests, a flangeengaging the upper side of the step, flanges engaging the rear and frontedges or" the step respectively, a truss rod extending under the stepthrough said rail and the ends of said arms, said support being drawnout to form an extended seat for said step and a knee brace for thesupport.

2. A device as described ior securing a step to the side rail of aladder comprising a single piece of sheet metal formed with a lowerflange, and an upper flange for engaging the inside of the side rail, apair of overlapping arms embracing said rail, said piece of sheet metalbeing slit and bent from the edges of said slit to form a support or thestep, a flange for engaging the upper side of the step and flanges forengaging the rear and frontedges respectively of the step, and a trussrod extending under the step through said rail and the overlapping endsof said arms, said support being drawn out to form an extended seat forsaid step and a knee brace for the support.

3. device as described for securing a step to the side rail of a ladder,comprising a clip formed with a lower flange and an upper flange forengaging the inside of the side rail, a pair of overlapping armsembracing said rail a support upon which the step rests, a flangeengaging the upper side of the step flanges engaging the rear and frontedges of the step respectively, the step being provided with 'alongitudinal groove in its under side and a truss rod extendingtl'irough said groove above said support and through said side rail andthe ends of said arms.

tnres.

GEORGE D. WVERNLI. WILLARD M. WEBSTER.

55 in testimony whereof we afiix our signa-

